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The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers already endured a haymaker when they lost Game 1 of their second-round series to the Indiana Pacers. It’s abundantly clear that Tyrese Haliburton’s bunch won’t give an inch to the juggernaut Cavaliers. But any hope of a Cleveland rebound in Wednesday night’s Game 2 might rest on the health of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and top bench contributor De’Andre Hunter.
Uh, about that. Gulp. Brace yourselves for some ominous news, Cavs fans.
According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has “real concerns” about Mobley’s and Hunter’s availability for the must-win Game 2. Mobley landed awkwardly on the floor late in the fourth quarter and was apparently limping in the postgame locker room as he contends with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Hunter took a hard hit of his own to the floor on the very next Cavaliers possession and is dealing with thumb pain. Oof.
Needless to say, the Cavaliers would be in huge trouble if they were without both Mobley, their defensive anchor in the paint, and Hunter, a two-way forward off the bench who gives them over 14 points a game. Oh, and lest I forget, starting point guard Darius Garland is still nursing a sprained toe that made him miss the Cavaliers’ last three postseason games. Piece all of this together, and it sure seems like the Cavaliers are nursing a rash of injuries at the worst possible time.
It doesn’t appear that Mobley’s and Hunter’s health status has been reflected in the betting market just yet, assuming there have been no changes. At the moment, oddsmakers with DraftKings still have the Cavaliers as solid favorites in Game 2. But expect the line to shift significantly if Mobley, Hunter, and Garland can’t go.
Cleveland already lost against the hungry Pacers when they had both Mobley and Hunter available. Without them, it’ll likely take a Herculean effort from Cavaliers like Donovan Mitchell to have any reasonable chance of avoiding a disastrous 0-2 hole after losing the first two home games.
For all intents and purposes, Wednesday night might as well be the crossroads of this Cavaliers season.
#Cavaliers #crisis #mode #Pacers #Evan #Mobley #DeAndre #Hunter #injuries
